Derry, Northern Ireland
We left Galgorm (aka heaven) this afternoon. The plan was to spend four days at Portrush. The drive was lovely— along a shore, past castle ruins.
We had booked an Airbnb that had several bedrooms. I am not sure why I thought we would need six bedrooms. Perhaps if the shepherds wanted to come to the shore?
Anyway, it wasn’t for us.
We are now, by a few missteps installed in a lovely garden flat of what is Merchant’s House.
So all is well.
Tara and I met in Zoom with the production team for the film. Cindy and Anne had met earlier and created a fantastic call sheet. More of the shepherds have been added. And I love it.
We will be providing a 360 view of how conflict impacts everyone in every generation.
Joan and Peter, our lifesavers came by. So so so good to see them like old friend and yet here we were first meeting! They had just been to see Barbie and loved it. We visited and popped our heads around lovely crannies and nooks of this sweet garden apartment. Tara continued the meeting. After they’d left I arrived back on the zoom. It was time for me to say something.
I told the story of why we are doing this. What was the spark (aside from being in the presence of Story at such a profound level)?
I’ll share it here then off to bed.
Tara and Cindy had met them when they were designing higher ed courses for refugee camps.
Tara and I came to Northern Ireland because Tara thought I should meet them because of my work with Narrative medicine and trauma.
After meeting in Sandino’s and listening with my eyes because the music was so loud, walking through the streets of Derry and listening more, I felt sharply aware of how much I had to learn. The next day I mentioned Alastair McIntosh to James.
“Ah, he was at Sandino’s last night. Did you not see him?”
I messaged Alastair on all three platforms. He was in Glasgow.
I saw James got me. Alastair though has taught me a thing or two. Among the many, “Never let a good crisis go to waste.” I asked if he knew my new friends, the ones I know call the NI Shepherds. He said no. Then he uttered words I have been running on ever since.
He said, “The Northern Ireland Peace Process should be studied and replicated around the world.”
And so we will.
Good night from Derry
Laura
Story Shepherds 